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Not diminishing the degree to which it can hurt your body long term - it absolutely can. That being said, most people that do that kind of work as a career star
by pc86 5y ago
Not diminishing the degree to which it can hurt your body long term - it absolutely can. That being said, most people that do that kind of work as a career start it as a job when they're 16-18 years old, and are typically active (sports, etc.) for many many years before that.
You're starting it at best in your mid-to-late twenties? And even if you played sports in HS and go to the gym regularly, your body just isn't used to it and it's past the point where it can quickly adapt and more importantly get used to the stimulus. You're likely much more prone to injury than someone fifteen years older than you whose been doing that work since they were 17 (I'm sure I am too, it would destroy and I am very active for a SWE).
- stanski 5y agoYes and no. I don't know of any exercise that would compare to sanding a wall, for example. It's not exactly an activity you would want to be doing for a long stretch of time. No matter how fit you are, construction work isn't like you're getting paid to go to the gym.
- yojo 5y agoFair. I’m late 30s, my dad is 74 and can work circles around me. He definitely started manual labor young. I did some of it in high school but have been behind a desk since college. I do consider myself very fit/active, but it’s not the strength or stamina that’s the limiting factor, it’s the holding weight at weird angles, or applying torque, or just reaching out over my center of mass for hours. Anecdotally it seems like the specialists have it worst. His friends who did flooring all have wrecked knees, and the drywall hangers have messed up shoulders. He seems to have made it out unscathed, though other generalists he knows have back problems.